Italy by Vespa

I have not done the tour but Italian drivers are fast, crazy and reckless. A car would give you alot more protection.I have driven for 3 trips there.

Yes I know. Just come back from Rome and needed a stiff drink at the airport following my taxi ride. This tour is along the back roads of Tuscany and the only large town you go through is Sienna with a police escort! The only way I would consider doing this. I have never driven in Italy and frankly don't think I have the courage to try. Also it's the wrong side of the road for us which only adds another complication.

I just returned from Italy this Monday. It was our second trip in a year. I rented a scooter -- a Beverly 250 and we toured the Amalfi Coast. It was an absolute blast! The mobility and freedom to stop and explore any small town was wonderful. As a result we found several little trattorias that we would have never found. These were very small featuring home grown vegetables and pastas.

Agreed, riding a scooter in Italy is an event. (But that is the thrill isn’t it?) I feel it is best to have several years’ motorcycle experience in your own country. From the outside looking in it seems the scooters are moving very fast, but they are also very agile and can accelerate and brake quickly. Here are some of my learning’s;
Stay with the secondary roads.
Get a very good quality road map and have a pretty good plan where you are going for that segment. (One day we were trying to go to Pompeii, and ended up in the mountains North of Amalfi).
If some one is tailgating you, pull off and

let them by.
You will also notice that the bikes and cars almost always signal – make sure you do and the vehicles behind you will slow or stop.
If you do not want to pass the car in front of you, stay a little closer to the center of the lane.
Keep a very good look in your mirrors – scooters and especially sport bikes will appear from no where.
Always chain your scooter as well as locking the handlebars.
Do not leave any valuables on the bike.
Wear a helmet.
Keep both brakes covered at all times.

I rented a Honda CBR in Florence. Working the clutch, negotiating one way streets and trying to navigate the city was a real challenge. A scooter would have been much easier.

We rented in Sorrento from Jolly Servizi http://www.jollyservizi.it/index_en.htm, they were very reasonable and provided very good service.

One last thing, read Vroom with a View, In search of Italy's Dolce Vita on a '61 Vespa, by Peter Moore, He sums it up nicely.

Thanks very much guys for your tips. The tour I'm talking about is an actual organised tour through a US based company and their name is "Italy by Vespa". I'm not game enough to go solo and what I have seen of this is a small group with guide who knows the area and stays on the quieter local road. Looks a fun tour and so was curious if anyone has actually done it and what is was like.